Echoes of the Week.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 682, 2 April 1903, Page 15

Echoes of the Week.

Mr. Ewington’s meeting at the Y.M.C.A. rooms, on Tuesday, may not be called a huge success. It was evident from the first that the labour agitators present were against free speech, just as they are opposed to free labour, just as they would be opposed to anything and everything that carries with it a suggestion that the “ clean and easy job ” of the agitator is in danger. Mr.' Ewington’s quarrel is not with trades unionism, but with tyranny, and it need not surprise us, perhaps, to find that the agitator confounds the one thing with the other. In his mind there is no difference between the two, and he is honest to the extent of admitting that he wants to place the heels of the unionists on the necks of all those other members of the community who are unwilling or unable to join the organisation of labour. Tyranny is tyranny, whether it be exercised by the Tsar, the ' Grand Turk, or the democratic majority. When the down-trodden Russian subject rebels, all we Britishers admit that his appeal is to the sacred name. of Liberty, but when the subject of King Majority asks for his natural rights, ■he is called a “ scab,” and a “ black-leg.” * # * *

There was a time when trades unions went by the name of •••'“ guilds,” and membership was the stamp and. seal of efficiency. There was a time, also when men dreamed of a golden age in which each should enjoy perfect freedom, with equality before the law ■; when the Government of the State, as?-it is. the highest, should also be the purest tribunal of just’ce, favouring none,/impeding none in the exercise of his brain and muscle, and seeing that fair play was enjoyed all round. Concilation and Arbitration are excellent, but the statute under which one party to industrial disputes is constituted a national fozee to be upheld bv the military power of the State, if need be, is a gross error. * * * * It was interesting to note that the socialist element was prominent in the ranks of unionism. It must surelv be because Mr. Way and his friends have the trick of fluent speech, which is not nearly so difficult to acquire as the trick of thought. For what is there in common between the practical tradesman. who knows that he must work for all he gets ; and the impracticabl? dreamer, who fa,ncies that the world would be a much better place to-day if he had been consulted at the Creation ? * * * * Messrs. Whitehead & Son report that Mr. Sam. Adams has disposed of his interest' in the Royal Mail Hotel, Paeroa, to Mr. Crosby, who was proprietor during the days of the boom, and under whose competent management the house acquired a high reputation with the commercial and genera! public. z .

Mr Arthur Meyers is proceeding to the Old Country, and in view of his possibly protracted absence, has resigned his position on the hirectorate of several public edmpanies. Mr. Meyers’ absence, for however short a period, will be felt in Auckland. He has entered in what may be called the semi-public life of the City and district with zest, and his vigorous personality has made itself widely felt. He has so far managed to steer clear of politics, local or otherwise, except in so far as these have touched upon his business interests, but the time is coming when the citizens will lay claim to a little more of his time. He may be looked upon as one of the future Mayors, when, petty jealousies and other obstacles having been overcome, the great municipality of the North shall extend ( from the Waitemata to the Manakau. Meantime, in common with all his other wellwishers, we express a hope that he will enjoy his trip and return with all speed possible. •.• 4 4 It is pretty certain that Mr. E. Mitchelson will contest the Auckland Mayoralty, and equally so that he will, ' if he stand, secure a majority of votes. Mr. Mitchelson’s position is unique. A native of Auckland, and one of our most successful business men, he has occupied very nearly the highest position to which it is possible to be elevated by. the people of the Colony ; that is to s a y, he has been acting-Prime Minister. His actual position in the Ministry of Sir Harry Atkinson was- that of Minister of Public Works, for which both his taste and talents admirably fitted him. Auckland is lucky to have the chance of securing his services in a time of need ty like the present. Though there exists a commendable desire to avoid gossip about the late Sir Hector Macdonald in public, it is quite impossible to refrain from speculating about the painful event, and there is an uneasy feeling abroad that the A official silence covers an affair that is not without points of resemblance to the Dreyfus case. As the unfortunate officer’s friends in Great Britain are $ clamouring for a public enquiry, it is quite evident that they believe in his innocence of the offence imputed to him ’ whatever it may have been, and publicity would, in any case, be preferable to ty the present dark' uncertainty. Painful as many of the details are certain to be, the dead general’s reputation will most likely gain by the revelation. • • •

No one wiil suppose for a moment th as the doct ors who advised the Hospital Board to restrict the benefits of the institution to patients in indigent circumstances, desire to exploit the' opulent sick and injured, but, at, the same time they will not receive the warm support of the public. For a number, of years hospitals were popularly supposed to be for the destitute only, and so long as that belief lasted, only those of the poorer class who were void of spirit -would consent to be treated in such institutions. And if tne pauper reputation is restored, explicitly and not implicitly this time, history would repeat itself. The genius of thisColony will not stand class divisions of the sort suggested by the medical profession. Poor old Admiralty House ! What will be its ultimate fate, one wonders ! The law seems to imply that if the Board cannot find any official to occupy it, the subsidy and the.site of the old Admiralty. House must go back to the Government. The new buifding, therefore, may’ 5 for all practical purposes be regarded as a “ spec ” of the Board’s. Whether any profit is to be got out of it remains to be seen.

* ♦ * Te Arolia is, at the present time, thronged' with visitors, and presents an exceptionally busy appearance. There is no mistake, the place is gaining in, public favour as a health resort,' arid, being easy of access from town, - 5 those wljo cannot afford the time, to .g0..t0 Hotyrua and other places . further afield,/ find ty. • Te Aroha a bdautifuf >rid ‘ liealtKy. Apot’ •* in which to recuperateJ*“tsne* bf comfortable; and convenient places J : to' '** ' stay at is the Hot ; Springs ; Hotel}! . under the proprietorship of Mr, R. L. Somers, a host who is well-known, and deservedly most popular : with the travelling public. ■ • W.. ty., <. . The Thames is looking very quiet just’ now, but nowhere does there exist so ' much hope, as in the hearts of a mining community. Much is expected from the'-': deep-level sinking, but the delays in the ty boring operations have been many and prolonged. There is every probability * however, of operations being resumed in the very near future, and many hold the opinion tha.t rich gold-bearing reefs will eventually be discovered. In the mean- t time, the tradespeople and hotelkeepers .are making the best of things. On a recent visit there, our representative - put up, as of yore, at the Pacific, and found Mrs. Winter, the kindly, hostess,' still in charge, and the hotel conducted in the very best style. 1